Engine starter



June 8,1926. 1,587,550

H. C. PETERSON I ENGINE STARTER Filed April 9, 1920 INVENTOR;

f/o/l, Y 0. Peterson. BY I r I A TTORNEY latented June 8, 1926.

ll lhl i ill ill HOLLY G. PETERSGN, OF TOLEDO, OHIU, ASSIGNOR, BY MESBTE ASSIGNMENTS, T THE ELECTRIC AUTO-LITE COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CURPORATION OF OHIO.

ENGINE STARTER.

Application filed April 9, 1920. Serial No. 372,516.

This invention relates to starting ap paratus for internal combustion engines which, in order to start, require the application of an external force.

" An object of this invention is to provide a practical, durable and inexpensive apparatus for setting in rotation such an en gine.

Another object is to provide a starting apparatus which is normally disconnected from the engine but when operated to start the engine auton'iatically connects with a rotatable part of the engine.

Another object is the provision of ing apparatus comprising a driving her, and a driven member forcooperating with the engine, having a driving shaft and a member intermediate the engine and driving shaft which member is operativeiy disconnected from the driving shaft except during the starting operation.

Another objectof my invention is the provision of means for closing the circuit of the starting motor and concurrently shifting an intermediate engine driving means into engagement with the motor.

Further objects of this invention relate to economics of manufacture and details of construction as will hereinafter appear from the detailed description to follow. I accomplish the objects of my invention in certain instances by the devices and means described in the following specification, but it is evident that the same may be varied widely without departing from the scope of the invention, as pointed out in the appended claims. Eltructures constituting certain embodiments of my invention, any one of which may be the preferred, are illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which:

Figure I is a part elevation and part sectional view of a starter comprising my invention. Fig. ll is a similar View, showing a modified form. Fig. H1 is a circuit diagram.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring first to Fig. I, an electric starting motor 1', having a protruding screwthreaded shaft 5 is shown with a bracket 7 attached thereto as by bolts 8. This bracket 7 carries at its outer end a bearing 9 in which a shaft 10 is adapted to rotate and slide longitudinally, the axis of the shaft being in alignment with the armature shaft 5. This shaft 10 has an en largeinent 12 at its innermost end, having a screw-threaded bore 13 into which the shaft 5 may thread. The portion 12 also forms a bearing for a pinion 1- which is adapted to engage a toothed portion 15 on the engine fly-wheel 16. intermediate the portions 11 and 12 of the shaft 10 is a second enlarged portion 1'? around which per-- on is coiled comparatively heavy one end of which is anchored ment l! while the other end connection between the motor and engine. A buffer spring 20 is shown between the bearing 9 and the enlarged portion 17 of the shaft 10, this spring being partly bedded in a channel in the latter H16 for the purpose of protecting the spi g5, to enable the use of a longer spring. 'lli e outer end of the shaft 10 has a chamfe 23 which is engaged by the forked end 2st of a lever 25 pivoted to the bracket 7 at 26. This lever is actuated in one db rection by a rod 27 connected to the starting switch 28 and is actuated in the opnodirection by the return spri L i re starting switch 28 may be of any desired form and is here shown having a pair of contact terminals 30 and 31 which, when the switch is actuated by pr e upon the push plate 32, closes the circuit between those two terminal wilbe seen from the above ded structure that when the startin and to bring the threaded portion of tlr shaft 10, which is normally outof ment and spaced from the threaded sha into threaded engagement therewith. Tl motor having a high acceleration, its sha 5 quickly threads into the bore 13 and being restrained from longitudinal movement, draws the shaft 10 to the left in Fig. I and the pinion into full mesh with the teeth 15, a collar 6 on the motor-shaft providing an abutmei'it to limit furthe moves in; of the shaft 10. The shaft 10 is then in rigid drivii'ig connection with the motor shaft and the torque of the motor is transmitted to the engine through the spring 18 and pinion 14. As soon the engine begins to operate under its own power, the pinion 1% will be driven at a much higher speed than was given to it by the motor with the result that the shaft 10 is caused to unscrew from the motor shaft 5 and is thrown back to its normal or inoperative position as illustrated by Fig. I. The buffer spring 20 serves to cushion this return movement and prevent injury to the mechanism. The return movement of the shaft 10 also opens the starting switch 28 and should the operator be still depressing the switch he would feel adistinct blow reminding him that the engine had started.

While the motor shaft 5 is illustrated as of such a length that its threads will not engage the threads on the shaft 10 until after the pinion has begun to mesh with the toothed portion of the fiy-wheel, this is not essential as the motor shaft may, if desired, be made to engage the shaft 10 before the gears have begun tomesh.

In the circuit diagram, illustrated by Fig. III, I have shown the motor 4 and starting switch 28 connected in series with a battery 35, the switch in this case being shown diagrammatically only.

In the modification, illustrated by Fig. II, the motor 4 has a shaft 5 and collar 6 and has a bracket 7 carrying a bearing 9 as in the previously described form. The bracket 7 carries a shaft 10 as before, which shaft also has an enlarged inner end 12, which is provided with a screw-threaded bore 13 and provides a bearing for a pinion 14 adapted to engage teeth 15 on the fly-wheel 16. In this form of the invention a starting switch is not connected mechanically with the starting mechanism. The shaft 10 has an intermediate enlarged portion 17 about which is coiled a spring 18 connecting the shaft with the pinion as in the previously described form and a buffer spring 20 is also provided between the shaft and the bearing bracket. In this modification the shaft 10 is in constant engagement with the motor shaft 5' though in its released or normal position is not in threaded engagement therewith but merely abuts the end of the shaft under the influence of the spring 20 with the pinion 14 slightly spaced from the teeth 15. In certain cases it may be found desirable to increase the inertia of the shaft 10 which may be brought about in any one of a number of ways, one of which is disclosed on the drawing where the shaft is provided with a flange 87.

In the operation of this form of the device, supposing the starting mechanism to be in the position illustrated by Fig. II, as soon as the motor circuit is closed and the shaft 5 begins to rotate, it innnediwel threads into the end of the shaft 10' and by reason of the inertia of this shaft and par carried thereby, the shaft 5 draws shaft 1( toward itself, causing the pinion 14- to enthe teeth 15 on the fly-wheel. 3w soon as these gears begin to mesh the pllliflll prevented from rotating and quicpulled over to the limiting position as described in connection with Fig. I. The motor is then in positive driving connection with the shaft 10 and transmits its drivingtorque through the spring 17. As soon as the engine begins to operate under its own power the shaft 10 is caused to unscreu from the motor shaft 6 and is thrown back to its original or normal position, being cushioned by the buffer spring 20. Should the motor shaft be still turning after the shaft 10 has come to rest and re-cngage the shaft 10 and draw it over as in the sta in a operation shaft 10 would be quickly t oil by the pinion striking the rapidly iug fly-wheel.

Inasmuch as the invention herein dirclosed is susceptible of various other our bodiments and as various changes might be made in the embodiment set forth, it is to be understood that all matter described above or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative only, and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to s cure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an engine starter, the combination of a rotatable engine member, a driving means therefor; a motor driven shaft; and means for causing said driving means to engage operatively said shaft to transmit the movement from said shaft to said engine member, said shaft and driving means l eing mounted on separate supports and i'iorn'ially completely d'sconnected so that the driving means has no contact with or hearing on the shaft.

2. In an engine starter, the combination of a rotatable engine member; a motor driven shaft; driving means for said engine member constructed to engage operatively said shaft and said member to rotate the latter and to disengage operatively both said shaft and said member when the engine starts, said shaft and driving means mounted on separate supports and being normally completely disconnected in the line of power transmission thereinbctween so that the driving means has no contact with or hearing on the shaft.

3. In an engine starter, the combination of a rotatable engine member, a screwthreaded motor-driven shaft, a screwthreaded driving means for said member normally disconnected from said shaft, means for mounting said driving means so that is may move into engagement with said shaft and said engine member to transmit a starting torque to said engine and to move out of engagement with said member when the engine starts, the disconnection between the shaft and the driving means in nondriving position being entire in the, line of power transmission.

4:. In an engine starter, the combination of a rotatable engine member having teeth on its periphery, a screw-threaded motordriven shaft, a second shaft screw-threaded to engage said first shaft but normally bodily disconnected therefrom and mounted for rotative and longitudinal movement, a pinion mounted on said second shaft adapted to move into meshing and driving engagement with said engine member for starting the engine, the screw-threaded portions of said shafts being so proportioned that said second. shaft may become operatively dis connected from and rotate independently of said first shaft when said engine starts.

5. In an engine starter, the combination of a rotatable engine member, a motor driven shaft, torque transmitting means normally disconnected therefrom and out of operative engagement with said shaft and said engine member and means whereby said torque transmitting means is moved into operative engagement with said shaft and with said engine member upon sudden rotation of said shaft.

6. In an engine starter, the combination of a rotatable engine member, a motordriven screw-threaded shaft, a second screwthreaded shaft in alignment therewith and mounted for rotative and longitudinal move ment, means carried by and operatively conneeted with said second shaft for engaging said engine member and resilient means for pressing the threaded. portions of said shafts together whereby when said motor shaft rotates the motor shaft threads on the second shaft to move the same longitudinally and when the engine starts the second shaft threads oif of the motor shaft.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signa ture.

HOLLY G. PETERSON. 

